Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Faith: 19th Sunday of Ordinary Time


            I don’t know about you, but I would rather not be beaten at all.
            Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.”  I didn’t fully appreciate how comprehensive the study of faith could be until I went to seminary.  There is the Catholic faith which we profess.  There is faith from the perspective of the theological virtues of faith, hope and love.  Faith is essential for salvation, so it enters into discussions about justification and redemption.  It can be approached through the various lenses of the Church in different times and societies. 
            The text from Hebrews just quoted is the basic definition of faith: it is “the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” 
            As good as it is to study faith from a variety of perspectives, or to know this basic definition, we must always remember that faith is simply an experience—an encounter—with Jesus Christ.  It is to be lived, not only learned.  That is the goal of the Year of Faith which Pope Benedict called and which Pope Francis will conclude.  It is the major thrust of Francis’ first encyclical, Light of Faith, and saturated his homilies and talks at World Youth Day. 
            How is your faith?  How is your relationship with Jesus Christ?  Do you walk with him every day?  Do you pray?  Is he your friend?
            In our Christian journey it is helpful to look at models of faith in our lives.  Throughout this Year of Faith the Northern Cross has been featuring a column entitled Cloud of Witnesses that highlight men and women from our diocese who live our Catholic faith to the full.  I could write many such articles about you and continue to be inspired by the faith you live out.
            The Bible—beginning with some of the early chapters of Genesis—holds up Abraham as the father of faith.  The letter to the Hebrews reflects why this is so.  First, Abraham had a deep trust in God.  He left his home, career and family to follow God’s will.  Could you do this?
            Second, Abraham believed in God’s promise of bearing life, even at the ripe old age of 90 (while his wife Sarah was 100).  You sixty, seventy and eighty year young folks, imagine having a child now!  Imagine believing that you could conceive in your later stages of life!  Yet Abraham’s belief shows that faith always produces life.
            Third, Abraham was willing to give every gift he received back to God.  He was tested and asked to sacrifice his son Isaac.  He was ready to, even though it was only through Isaac that God’s promises of a multitude of descendants and an inheritance of land could come.  Abraham gave everything to God and we should do the same.  Everything we have and are come from God’s goodness.
            Finally, Abraham was a deep man of prayer.  He talked with God frequently.  He listened to God.  In our age of texting, tweeting, instagramming, snap chatting, do you spend as much time talking with our Lord as you do on your phone?
            In his encyclical, Pope Francis notes that “The Christian faith is faith in a perfect love.”  I invite and encourage you to be immersed in this love through your faith.

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